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Rafael Ruelas

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Rafael Ruelas
Born (1971-04-26) 26 April 1971 (age 53)
NationalityMexican
American
Statistics
Weight(s)Featherweight
Lightweight
Super lightweight
Height5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Reach71 in (180 cm)
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights57
Wins53
Wins by KO41
Losses4

Rafael Ruelas (born 26 April 1971) is a Mexican real estate agent in Granada Hills, California. He was a professional boxer who held the IBF lightweight world championship from 1994 until 1995.

Professional career

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Shortly after a TKO in 10 over Jorge Páez in 1992, Ruelas earned a shot at IBF lightweight title Freddie Pendleton, overcoming an early knockdown and winning by unanimous decision.

Ruelas was able to successfully defend his title prior to being challenged by the rapidly rising star Oscar De La Hoya. De la Hoya, despite having lost to Ruelas twice in golden gloves, defeated Ruelas, knocking him down twice and ending the fight in the second round.[1]

Ruelas's career and success were driven by a tenacious, aggressive, and disciplined character. Ruelas retired in 1999 and went on to marry American beauty product business owner, Sabrina Ruelas. The couple have three children together. In an interview, Ruelas was quoted as saying that his wife and family are his biggest accomplishments, surpassing even his championship belts. Ruelas serves as a real estate agent in Granada Hills.

Professional boxing record

[edit]
57 fights 53 wins 4 losses
By knockout 41 3
By decision 11 1
By disqualification 1 0
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round Date Location Notes
57 Win 53–4 Hicklet Lau SD 10 Aug 8, 1999 New Frontier Hotel, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
56 Loss 52–4 Kostya Tszyu TKO 9 (12) Aug 15, 1998 County Coliseum, El Paso, Texas, U.S.
55 Win 52–3 Juan Baldwin RTD 5 (10) Jun 19, 1998 Trump Marina Hotel Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
54 Win 51–3 Tim Scott TKO 2 (?) Mar 21, 1998 Max Schmeling Halle, Prenzlauer Berg, Berlin, Germany
53 Win 50–3 Rodney Wilson TKO 7 (10) Nov 14, 1997 South Padre Island, Texas, U.S.
52 Win 49–3 Mike Griffith TKO 2 (10) Jul 19, 1997 Fantasy Springs Casino, Indio, California, U.S.
51 Win 48–3 Jesus Arce TKO 2 (10) Jan 23, 1997 Country Club, Reseda, California, U.S.
50 Win 47–3 Jaime Balboa KO 5 (10) Dec 3, 1996 Fantasy Springs Casino, Indio, California, U.S.
49 Win 46–3 Livingstone Bramble UD 10 Aug 23, 1996 Ballys Park Place Hotel Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
48 Win 45–3 Mike Walsh KO 2 (10) Jul 10, 1996 Beverly Hilton, Beverly Hills, California, U.S.
47 Win 44–3 Tomas Barrientes KO 2 (10) Apr 30, 1996 San Antonio, Texas, U.S.
46 Loss 43–3 George Scott UD 12 Oct 7, 1995 Atlantis Resorts and Casino, Paradise Island, Bahamas For vacant WBU lightweight title
45 Loss 43–2 Oscar De La Hoya TKO 2 (12) May 6, 1995 Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. Lost IBF lightweight title;
For WBO lightweight title
44 Win 43–1 Billy Schwer RTD 8 (12) Jan 28, 1995 MGM Grand, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. Retained IBF lightweight title
43 Win 42–1 Omar Pacheco KO 3 (10) Dec 8, 1994 Convention Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S.
42 Win 41–1 Mike Evgen TKO 3 (12) May 27, 1994 MGM Grand, Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. Retained IBF lightweight title
41 Win 40–1 Freddie Pendleton UD 12 Feb 19, 1994 Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S. Won IBF lightweight title
40 Win 39–1 Manuel Hernandez KO 1 (8) Oct 22, 1993 Boise State Pavilion, Boise, Idaho, U.S.
39 Win 38–1 Conrado Lopez KO 1 (10) Aug 19, 1993 Marriott Hotel, Irvine, California, U.S.
38 Win 37–1 Darryl Tyson UD 10 Jul 17, 1993 Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
37 Win 36–1 Robert Rivera TKO 3 (12) Feb 23, 1993 Country Club, Reseda, California, U.S. Retained NABF lightweight title; title match despite Rivera being 4lbs overweight
36 Win 35–1 Roberto Burgos KO 1 (10) Jan 19, 1993 Boise Center, Boise, Idaho, U.S. Won vacant NABF lightweight title
35 Win 34–1 Jorge Páez RTD 10 (12) Nov 6, 1992 Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S. Won vacant NABF lightweight title
34 Win 33–1 Benny Dominguez KO 1 (10) Aug 25, 1992 Country Club, Reseda, California, U.S.
33 Win 32–1 Mauro Gutierrez UD 10 Jul 7, 1992 Hollywood Palladium, Hollywood, California, U.S.
32 Win 31–1 Francisco Ortiz TKO 2 (10) May 26, 1992 Country Club, Reseda, California, U.S.
31 Win 30–1 Francisco Lopez TKO 1 (8) Apr 3, 1992 Reno-Sparks Convention Center, Reno, Nevada, U.S.
30 Win 29–1 Rocky Lockridge UD 10 Jan 30, 1992 Country Club, Reseda, California, U.S.
29 Win 28–1 Juan De La Paz TKO 2 (10) Nov 26, 1991 Country Club, Reseda, California, U.S.
28 Loss 27–1 Mauro Gutierrez KO 2 (12) Jul 31, 1991 Country Club, Reseda, California, U.S. For vacant WBC Continental Americas lightweight title
27 Win 27–0 Narciso Valenzuela Romo UD 10 Jun 25, 1991 Country Club, Reseda, California, U.S.
26 Win 26–0 Fernando Soldadito Teran KO 1 (10) May 17, 1991 Country Club, Reseda, California, U.S.
25 Win 25–0 Steve Cruz KO 3 (12) Mar 31, 1991 Sands Hotel & Casino, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. Won vacant NABF featherweight title
24 Win 24–0 Vicente Gonzalez UD 10 Feb 26, 1991 Country Club, Reseda, California, U.S.
23 Win 23–0 Tomas Valdez TKO 3 (12) Jan 14, 1991 Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S. Won vacant IBF American featherweight title
22 Win 22–0 Richard Abila KO 7 (12) Nov 27, 1990 Country Club, Reseda, California, U.S. Won vacant USA California State featherweight title
21 Win 21–0 Felipe de Jesus TKO 7 (10) Sep 22, 1990 Arco Arena, Sacramento, California, U.S.
20 Win 20–0 Job Walters TKO 9 (10) Aug 17, 1990 Bally's Las Vegas, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
19 Win 19–0 Rosendo Alonso TKO 1 (10) Jul 31, 1990 Country Club, Reseda, California, U.S.
18 Win 18–0 Abe Gomez UD 10 Jun 18, 1990 Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S.
17 Win 17–0 Vicente Gonzalez RTD 5 (10) May 29, 1990 Country Club, Reseda, California, U.S.
16 Win 16–0 Arturo Hernandez TKO 1 (8) Apr 14, 1990 Mirage Hotel & Casino, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
15 Win 15–0 Antonio Sanchez KO 2 (?) Mar 8, 1990 Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S.
14 Win 14–0 Roberto Rios TKO 2 (8) Feb 27, 1990 Country Club, Reseda, California, U.S.
13 Win 13–0 Simon Contreras KO 5 (?) Feb 5, 1990 Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S.
12 Win 12–0 Ricardo Flores KO 1 (8) Nov 28, 1989 Country Club, Reseda, California, U.S.
11 Win 11–0 Margarito Ruiz DQ 1 (6) Oct 24, 1989 Country Club, Reseda, California, U.S.
10 Win 10–0 Jose Luis Vazquez KO 1 (6) Sep 26, 1989 Country Club, Reseda, California, U.S.
9 Win 9–0 Joey Quinlan KO 1 (?) Aug 29, 1989 Country Club, Reseda, California, U.S.
8 Win 8–0 Ben Gomez KO 3 (4) Jul 14, 1989 Riviera Club, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
7 Win 7–0 Chilo Guzman KO 3 (6) Jun 27, 1989 Country Club, Reseda, California, U.S.
6 Win 6–0 Benito Rodriguez KO 3 (?) Jun 16, 1989 Sam Houston Coliseum, Houston, Texas, U.S.
5 Win 5–0 Javier Lara KO 3 (6) May 30, 1989 Country Club, Reseda, California, U.S.
4 Win 4–0 Margarito Arreola MD 4 Apr 25, 1989 Showboat Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
3 Win 3–0 Leopoldo Maya TKO 1 (4) Mar 28, 1989 Showboat Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
2 Win 2–0 Robert Rayford TKO 3 (4) Feb 14, 1989 Showboat Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
1 Win 1–0 Marcos Covarrubias UD 4 Jan 17, 1989 Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.

Pay-per-view bouts

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Date Fight Billing Buys Network
May 6, 1995 De La Hoya vs. Ruelas La Batalla 330,000[2] HBO

References

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  1. ^ Friend, Tom (7 May 1995). "De La Hoya Scores Second-Round Knockout of Ruelas". The New York Times. Retrieved 12 December 2021.
  2. ^ Pay-Per-View History Archived 2007-06-06 at the Wayback Machine at about.com
[edit]
Preceded by IBF Lightweight boxing champion
19 February 1994–6 May 1995
Succeeded by